I have a goldfish that accidently got it's 2 middle bottom fins nibbled off. Will they ever grow back or is all hope gone. If they can grow back what can i do to help out my little fish grow those 2 bottom fins back and get better.
2007-09-03 16:15:43 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
As long as the skin where the fins grew from wasn't damaged, the fins will grow back. The best you can do to help your fish recover is to add a little salt to the water (this can be aquarium salt, but rock salt, canning salt, pickling salt, or non-iodized table salt are the same thing, but cheaper). Do this at about 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water (add the salt to water and mix before adding it to the tank). Keep and eye out for fungal infections on the damaged areas and keep the water as clean as possible (you might want to do a water change before adding the salt). You might also want to adjust the flow on any filter for the tank so the fish doesn't have as much flow to struggle against to swim for a while.
Even if the skin is damaged, fish are remarkable about adapting. I had a bullhead catfish that had the tail eaten down to the bone by its mate, yet he recovered and learned to swim (although a little awkwardly) without having the fin.
2007-09-03 16:26:04 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The goldfish will likely grow its fins back if they are not removed all the way to the body. Whether or not they grow back, you should guard against opportunistic infections by salting the tank, up to 1 Tablespoon per 5 gallons of water is often recommended. In general, you can add salt to an aquarium fairly quickly without stressing the fish, but you want to reduce the salt gradually when you are done treating them. For example, if you change 30% of the water on your routine water changes, to avoid stressing the fish it is best to either increase the frequency of the changes and lower the amount changed, (change 10% 3 times in the time you would normally change 30%) or when you change the 30%, add a little salt to the water you put in, but in a lower concentration than what is already in the tank.
2007-09-03 23:30:42 · answer #2 · answered by theseeker4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, they should grow back with proper care and providing that they weren't nibbled off all the way to the body. Just make sure keep very clean water and a little aquarium salt wouldn't hurt and would help to keep away fungus and paracites. Good luck
Tina
2007-09-03 23:22:54 · answer #3 · answered by Tina N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes the fins can grow back. what is important is for you to prevent any infections from starting on the "stumps"
make sure you dose your tank with a good anti-biotic from the pet shop.
if no infection is present the fins can growback in 2-3 weeks.
2007-09-03 23:29:31 · answer #4 · answered by john e 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This happened to one of mine, they will grow back in time. I separated mine in a sick tank for awhile and the fins grew back pretty quickly.
2007-09-04 00:06:06 · answer #5 · answered by Leah B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your local pet Store or walmart have medication that will help the goldfish heal up! :) Good Luck
2007-09-03 23:31:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take care of him very well. otherwise nothing else you can do dats true
2007-09-03 23:20:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flush it down the toilet, you'll get over it in no time.
2007-09-03 23:23:12 · answer #8 · answered by Beans 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
maybe you could call a vet and ask someone there.
2007-09-03 23:20:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋